Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 17:51:33 -0500
Subject: TRANSEXUAL WOMAN WALKS FREE FOLLOWING ARREST FOR BEING SHOT
From: riki@pipeline.com (Riki Anne Wilchins)
TRANSEXUAL WOMAN WALKS FREE FOLLOWING ARREST FOR BEING SHOT
[VENTURA, CA - somedate]
After being held in solitary confinement for 40 days, Candy Walker
finally strode from her jail cell today, a free woman. She was released on
her own recognizance plus $20,000 bail after being charged in a bizarre
incident in which she was shot and wounded by her own father, only to find
herself charged in that very shooting.
A transexual woman, Ms. Walker came out to her deeply
transphobic/homophobic parents on Christmas Day, 1995. Her father
responded by asking police to remove her from the house. Just three days
later, Ms. Walker returned to her home to collect some of her belongings.
Her father then shot Ms. Walker twice, the second bullet wounding her in
the head.
Ms. Walker survived her gunshot injuries, only to find herself charged
in the shooting by the District Attorney with First Degree Burglary.
Justifying her arrest in a statement apparently lifted directly and without
attribution from Kafka, D.A. John Vanarelli declared, "I am concerned about
the safety of the community. Candy provoked a violent and most likely
justified reaction from her father, whose gun shots caused extreme risk of
injury or death to people in community."
In addition, Ms. Walker's cane was later discovered to contain a small
blade. Carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) was subsequently added to her
charges. D.A. Vanarelli requested and received a bail of $250,000, a
figure more commonly associated with first-degree murder than
transexuality. Appalled by the turn of events, Candy's mother offered to
take her back, drop all charges, and get her daughter into counselling.
Although all complaints were subsequently dropped, D.A. Varanelli
continued to press the weapons charge against Ms. Walker. Her defense
attorney unsuccessfully petitioned for bail reduction to a more reasonable
amount. After rebuffing this effort, D.A. Varanelli was overheard by Cathy
Walker (no relation) of the Transexual Menace - Central California, to say
to his colleague: "At least that will keep him [sic] off the streets in a
dress for while."
Local activists, including Shirley Bushnell of the Transgender Menace,
LA, and Joyce Andrews of TOPS (Transgender Officers Protect & Serve)
provided the Judge and D.A. with copies of the recent ABC 20/20 show on
transexual activism, as well as letters and faxes about transexuality.
They created further pressure by citing the probability of public
demonstrations in Ms. Walker's support if her case did not receive just and
prompt resolution.
Ms. Walker has undergone psychiatric evaluation from vista Del Mar
Hospital, and was released Feb. 8, 1996. Candy could still face trial in
this matter and the next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12, 1996.
Said Ms. Bushnell, Ms. Walker and Ms. Andrews, "Although we are glad
to see Candy free, we are appalled that she was ever charged in the first
place. Virtually her only 'crime' was being a transexual woman. Charges
would *never* have been brought in a domestic dispute of this nature,
especially against the *victim* in a shooting incident, had she been
privileged, straight, white and non-transgendered. The Menace and TOPS
will continue to press on all available fronts for a change in attitude by
local police and D.A. until we are confident a member of our community will
never have to endure this kind of nightmare again."
[END]